WEST Midlands Police has renewed the lease on its fleet of 30 all-electric Nissan LEAFs after the British-built cars saved tens of thousands of pounds on fuel and cut carbon emissions by hundreds of tonnes.
The force took delivery of its first LEAFs in 2013 in what was at the time the largest ever UK fleet deal for Nissan’s pioneering and market-leading electric vehicle.
Now it has replaced those original 30 cars with the new 30kWh LEAF – which benefits from an extended 155-mile range – after West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson renewed the lease deal through dealer group West Way Nissan, which supplied the vehicles.
He took the decision after the LEAFs, which are used to transport officers to set appointments with members of the public rather than respond to 999 emergencies, proved their worth in service.
Since joining West Midlands Police in 2013, its fleet of 30 LEAFs has:
- Covered 700,000 miles
- Saved £68,000 in fuel costs
- Reduced carbon emissions by circa 200 tonnes
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson, said: “Anything that helps us save money in the current climate is most welcome and I am pleased to approve this new lease.
“As well as being greener, the Nissan LEAF costs a fraction of the cost per mile to run compared to a diesel or petrol car.
“They have the added bonus of being British built in Sunderland and being much greener.”
Karl Anders, National EV Manager at Nissan Motor (GB), said: “More and more local authorities and public sector organisations across the UK are turning to Nissan’s market-leading electric vehicles to meet their fleet needs.
“Both the LEAF and e-NV200 can have a significant impact on reducing running and whole-life costs as well as well as helping organisations significantly cut their carbon emissions.”
